Livetext, Yahoo's new messaging app, makes video calling silent and private. While video clips on mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets can show emotions better than text messages, the audio feature makes conversations public.
This is Yahoo's latest mobile service. It is sent like a text message except videos are seen minus the audio.
The app makes no caps on the encrypted text lengths, and users cannot archive conversations. Its goal is to allow people to live in the moment, like the Snapchat and Meerkat smartphone apps.
Other Yahoo services such as Facebook Messenger, Skype, and WhatsApp already send video calls. However, Livetext has a fresh new twist.
Both the sender and receiver of the video message must have the application, and the number of users is peanuts compared to Yahoo's millions of users. However, the tech giant wants to keep the experience private.
In order to use Livetext, users are required to register a separate ID, according to NBC News. They must use their smartphone's address book to make friend requests. The new app was recently showcased in New York City's Manhattan borough.
Adam Cahan, a senior vice president at Yahoo, said at the Livetext media event that the company wants to connect, inform, and entertain its users, according to CNET.
Tests will first be conducted in various countries including Taiwan, Hong Kong, Ireland, and some United States colleges.
Next, the silent video app will be launched on July 30, Thursday for Apple and Android mobile devices. That will be in the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom (UK), Germany, and France.
Yahoo has been praised lately for the wholesale changes to its mobile apps, and has won Apple design awards in 2013 and 2014. However, it has a long way to go. In May. 80 percent of the top smartphone apps were owned by Google or Facebook.